The Bozeman weekly chronicle. (Bozeman, Mont.) 1883-1889, 1887-01-12

tion to what saw.n
''Sawi What did you seef"
''My first sight Of you In California was in
Chinese Camp yonder. waltzinG in dance
house, your arm around the waist of Msxi-
can girl
Heavens and eerthi The fandango hall
was open to the street-it might almost have
been in 1t SO far as privacy was concerned
and this was the manner in which had
been put on free exhibition to Blanche while
on her way that evening from the hotel to
the Chinese Camp ''opera house"
"And for that reason you did not recognise
me In the box at the fheatreF'
"It Is not my business on the stage TO rec
ognize any one In the audience. People do
not pay their money to zee an actress rod and
smile at her friends."
"How did you hear Of the charge against
mef' asked.
ut was the talk at the hotel table, in that
camp where we played. ThsreI first learned
of my unele's whereabouts and his condition.
what did they say Of me7n
"In substance, that your Life and actions
were suspicious; that you 1oafed good
deal, as they expressed II, always had plenty
Of money, and that no ore knew how you
came by 1t. think, however, should not
have Judged you SO quickly as did had
not seen you In the dance house,
why did that so set you against meF'
"Thats strange question for you to ask.
Perhaps 1t was because Of jealousy-perhaps
contempt she replied.
was silent. She continues. "Never mind
that now. Ny fault Is the greater. want
to see it all, and you must help me. Did not
my manner toward you at the store the
other day excite more prejudice than ever
against you among the minersr
u think 1t did,
II thought So" said she. 81 began to $50
and fesl it very soon. Well, it shows q
woman's power for good or ill-in this case
for ill-and men call us the weaker sex.
What caused the quarrel between you and
my unclef'
to me and Broener"
II gather from my uncle's rambling, de-
lirious talk that he imagines the ground in
question not to be yours legally. Is that sor'
"Thsn why aad did H. slg,ss ,sse himr
"BecauseI thought Tile circumstances JUS
titled it 1t is ground for which no legal
provision is yet made for holdings"
"Then how can you hold itln
"Only by the unwritten law of this land
at present-the law of might"
'The same law by which your recently dis.
missed friends from yonder hollow acted, n
was her answer.
'You would make good lawyer" said.
II think Ishould. But have you not placed
yourself in an awkward positionl"
"Yes, either have or fate has for ma"
"What do you think my fault has been In
this matterF she asked
II don't know that there Is any think,
had you known the temper Of Bull Bar, you
would not unconsciously have brought the
prejudice against me to the boiling point by
cutting me as you did at the store, before SO
many people That, on your part, was caused
by ignorance. 1 think, though, that you
might first have sought me out and heard
my story before judging me-" said.
~ should have done SO. 1t was a great
mistake Any moreT she asked.
"Well, you may have made similar mis-
judgment in another direction, as to seeing
me as you did in the-the dance house."
"Indeed! think understand. You were
simply enjoying a mans privileges in this
very free country"
''That's your way Of putting itg
"What is your way Of putting itf'
was silent She continued: Suppose We
reverse the case, and you had seen me in thai
place, whirling in the arms of brawny
minerF'
"It's not supposable case" answered.
"Thank you. In other words you would
say that no lady would visit such placer
"If l say SO, then suppose you will ash
me why should a gentleman visit it1'
Eyes" said she. "That was my intention
On second thought take the question back
Imay want possibly to reserve for myself
some time or other some Of the privileges oi
you gentlemen"
We were silent for some minutes.
why did you not inquire of Broener witt
regard to the AFFAIR."" asked
~ had reasons-perhaps right perhap,
wrong-for not doing so / knew that a.
your partner, and an interested party, hi
sympathies would be In your behalf
wanted to find out for myself and place my
self under as little obligation as possible t.
any one in doing what had to do. Perhaps
in that, made mistake"
"You mean, then, that had you beer
guided by Broener you might not have beei
misled as you were regarding meP
"Guided is rather too strong word
Still, think now his judgment in the mat
ter would have been better than mine,n sh,
replied
This phase Of the subject was not agree
able to me. 1avoided present further men
tion of 1t; but that dreadful dance hous
picture of myself before Blanche now tool
full possession Of me. could not help talk
| ing of it. said:
''As we are talking very plainly to eaci
other tonight, may ask Of you exactl,
your Judgment of me from seeing me at th,
fandangon
my Judgment regarding it Is one thing
my emotion may be quite another. As t,
| t,,6o ,a.,tn i,tdn fv, kha
own am not able to do 1t You are a MAJ
living among men, Influenced possibly By
other men. You live In the mans kingdom
and in that kingdom are laws, customs
usages, privileges, perhaps temperaments
which don't appertain to us women. Yol
may have waltzed with the Mexican girl fol
the mere pleasure Of the moment; you may
again, be her lover; you may like those lov
revels and persist In them you may drop u
for moments curiosity and amusement an,
satiated, perhaps disguised, soon come ou
again How do l known
| ~ think your last conjecture the righ
one," said somewhat eagerly.
| ~ hope it is, /" she answered, adding, 80
your own sake"
"For my sake alonef
''For the sake Of all or any one whose hap
piness depends on your welfare, )" she replied
'Does yours now depend at all on tina
welfaref' asked.
''Do you mean to ask If love you still
Is my act tonight one of love or hater wa
her reply.
'Perhaps you might have SO done for an,
man"
She paused and then said slowly: "Sinc
you are so kind as to suggest the idea, well
perhaps might"
| was neither comforted nor satisfied Tall
OF handling edged tools! The Land O
Promise, SO near at one moment, receded a
the next
Pardon me, Blanche" said. ~ shoul,
not have made such a remark
| HT dou,t xoo univ xyr,, sbo,,ld NOT Ub.